Kicker complaints now number 2,500

SALEM - The number of Oregon taxpayers complaining that their kicker refund was given to the State School Fund in error was 2,500 as of late Wednesday afternoon. A state spokeswoman had earlier said the complaints totalled 3,000, but she lowered the number a few hours later, saying the larger figure included some kicker-related calls that did not involve school fund donations.

Revenue officials say a problem with electronic filing resulted in some taxpayers' refunds going to the school fund even though they did not check that box on their returns. The problem had not been isolated Wednesday, but state officials are working to try to find a resolution by Christmas, said Rosemary Hardin of the Oregon Department of Revenue. "We're not convinced it's a software issue," Hardin added.

The state mailed refund checks earlier this month that returned $1.1 billion to taxpayers in the biggest kicker in state history. More than half of the 1.6 million returns were filed electronically.

A total of about 12,000 returns indicated that the taxpayers wanted their kicker check to go to the school fund. The revenue department is asking people who believe their refunds were donated to the school fund in error to contact them by e-mail or telephone. Details are here.

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